One Christian Dad

Women: where are we going wrong?

Here is a post by my wife for the ladies.

My Cancer Journey: Part 8: Cumulative Effects

Day 47 – Sunday I was not well yesterday. My digestive issues (acid reflux and constipation) were the highlights of the day.  The icing on the cake, was the lack of taste buds…but that is minor compared to the rest.  I spend a lot of time resting… A common pose for me lately…   This morning I was in a fair bit of pain from those digestive issues.  However, I was happy for church where we…

Halfway There…

Today marks the halfway mark of Ryan’s 9 weeks of chemotherapy – we are 4 1/2 weeks in. From here on, there is less remaining than what we have already experienced (if all goes accordin… Source: Halfway There…

In Your Valley…

  Are you walking through a valley right now? I have gone through some deep valleys in my life.  When my dad died.  When I suffered from depression, and at a few other times. What is your valley? Depression? Maybe you care for a sick spouse?  Maybe you are the sick spouse?  Maybe you lost a child, or a parent. Maybe you lost your job or your house, or perhaps your husband cheated on you. You know…

My Cancer Journey: Part 7: Thankful

Day 38 continues… My  meeting with my oncologist, Dr. Le, went well, in fact it was a little anticlimactic.  She is happy with how I am handling the Chemo, and there is no reason to postpone treatment. That was about the gist of the meeting. Charlie brought us a spaghetti dinner, ( Thanks Renee!) with fresh veggies and pudding.  Spaghetti always goes over well with the kids.  Although Noah…

My Cancer Journey Part 6: Chemo week 3

Day 33 Sunday Today, my thumb and forefinger on my left hand are numb/sore. I wore my suit to church, for the first time post surgery, and found it a little difficult to do up the buttons on my shirt due to the numbness in my left hand.  The good news is that i was able to wear the suit without much discomfort, and I was far more comfortable in the pews this week. After lunch I had to get blood…

My Cancer Journey: Part 5: Chemo Week 2

Day 27 Worship and Weight It has been just about 48 hours since the last chemo treatment, and I felt pretty good when I awoke. Since it is Sunday, I tried on my suit. It is still too restrictive in the groin, so I wore shorts. This also prompted me to weigh myself, because I figured my suit should be loose on me by now.  The day of my surgery I weighed 169lbs. 19 days post surgery, and after a…

PSA: Check Your Nuts

Squirrel Nuts Since being diagnosed with testicular cancer (TC) I have been doing a fair bit of research, and am becoming somewhat of an advocate for guys to check for it. So. Let’s cut to the chase. If TC is caught early on before it spreads from the testicle, it has a 100% cure rate (and you won’t need chemotherapy)! Sure you will have to have surgery, and take a 4-6 week vacation, and you may…

My Cancer Journey: Part 4: Chemotherapy

So I never realized that there are hundreds of different chemicals to fight different cancers. The list is quite extensive! I am on only 3 of these drugs, known together as BEP, to combat my cancer. I will be on 3 cycles consisting of 3 weeks each.  All together I will receive 21 days of treatment in those 9 weeks. Each treatment lasts from 3-4 hours, the days with only the one drug is about 1…

The end of week one. I hope to write a bit about the week when I have some strength back. I am thankful for my wife, who is a warrior holding this family together and keeping things running smoothly. I love her with all I am. And I love all of you, and yes this introvert has become a hugger as well. :)

A common theme that underscores many conversations I have with others, is that my cancer diagnosis must be overwhelming. I understand why this is so. Cancer should be overwhelming. It is a terrible disease.  In my own strength, there is no way to stand under the weight of this shadow of brokenness and death. Let’s be honest, in my own my strength I would crumble. To face one’s mortality without…

My Cancer Journey. Part 3: Pathology Report

Day 11 Saturday 3 days post surgery. Today I awoke with an appetite and a tiny bit of energy, so I made omelettes. I had two bites and couldn’t eat it. A side effect of the recovery is a lack of an appetite.   I spent the day at home, blogging, responding to messages and just resting. Teresa took Kaitlyn out during Noah’s nap, and Meagan went out and played with friends.  I was dozing in and out…

My Cancer Journey. Part 2: Surgery

This is part two of my cancer journey. Feel free to read Part 1 – Diagnosis and the first week Day 7 continued Tomorrow is surgery day. In the evening our elders came for a visit. Phil, our ward elder, read from Matthew 6:25-34. He went through TC a number of years ago, so it is a blessing to have him as our elder, as he completely understands what we are going through. We even have the same…

My “Cancer” Poem

My Dad and Me. 1980-ish. Look at all that hair! 15 years ago my dad was diagnosed with Terminal Renal Carcinoma (kidney cancer). It was a difficult time for him, and for us. So, late one night, I wrote him this poem entitled, “My Only Comfort”. He printed it out and kept a copy with him.  He even tried to turn it into a hymn, but he passed away before he finished it. Now I offer it for all who…

Here is Teresa’s version of week one of our cancer journey. It is good for me to read her perspective. She gives me too much credit, any strength I have is from the Lord.

My Cancer Journey: The First Week

Now that news is getting out of my cancer diagnosis, I thought it was a good time to post. I was unsure how to do it, so I did it journal style.  Here is how my week went. Day 1  Tuesday night, or rather early Wednesday morning, on August 24 around 3am, I went to the Emergency Room with pain in my groin and abdomen area.  I had had the pain before, a dull ache in my groin, lower back and abdomen,…